Volkswagen T-Roc revealed

Long-awaited baby SUV unveiled ahead of Frankfurt motor show debut.

Volkswagen T-Roc revealed

24 Aug 2017Greg Kable

Volkswagen has lifted the covers on the new T-Roc at a media presentation held on the shores of Lake Como in Italy.

Set to make its public premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show prior to a start to Australian sales in 2018, the new high riding five seat hatchback slots in to the German car maker’s line-up beneath the Tiguan offering buyers the choice of three petrol and two diesel engines in differing states of tune together with either front- or permanent four-wheel drive.

One of two new crossover style Volkswagen SUV models planned for introduction by early 2019, the uniquely styled T-Roc was first previewed by in concept car guise at the 2014 Geneva motor show.

The definitive production version, pictured here officially for the first time, has been conceived to rival a wide number of junior SUV offerings in a price range that will see it compete with the Renault Captur at the lower end and the Mercedes-Benz GLA at the upper end of its initial six model strong line-up.

2018 Volkswagen T-Roc. Photo: Supplied

It will be joined in early 2019 by a production version of the smaller Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze concept revealed at the 2016 Geneva motor show, according to Wolfsburg sources.

The T-Roc is the latest Volkswagen model to be based on the company’s highly versatile MQB platform. It employs a MacPherson strut front and, depending on the engine and drive system, either a torsion beam or multi-link rear suspension in combination with an optional adaptive damper system.

Stylistically, the new SUV leans heavily on the earlier concept of he same name with an exterior styled to emphasize its dual on- and off-road character.

2018 Volkswagen T-Roc. Photo: Supplied

Among the key design cues is a new interpretation of the classically simple Volkswagen grille. It is bookmarked by relatively thin headlamps that wrap around well into the front fenders to give the front end a highly tapered appearance. The thin profile of the headlamps has been made possible by a decision to house the LED daytime running lamps and cornering lamps lower down within the front bumper, which also receives a prominent trapezoidal shaped cooling duct and silver coloured kick plate within its lower section. The daytime running lamps serve as indicators, switching to an orange hue when the turn signals are in operation.

Related Content

Further back, the sides are dominated by relatively large wheelhouses flanked by heavily structured wheel arches. Other distinguishing styling features include a swage line that runs back above the door handles to form a defined shoulder line, a chrome trim element extending from the A-pillar over the entire side of the roof before ending at the base of the wide C-pillars and, as optional, a two –tone paint scheme in which the roof section, including the A-pillars and exterior mirror housings, boast a contrasting colour to the rest of the T-Roc’s five-door steel body.

Three specifications are planned from the outset of sales: standard, style and sport.

At 4234mm in length, 1819mm in width and 1573mm in height, the T-Roc is 252mm shorter, 11mm wider and, due to its more road car like ground clearance, a considerable 131mm lower than the second-generation Tiguan. Although the two Volkswagen models share the same 2603mm wheelbase, their track widths differ; the T-Roc’s front and rear tracks are 24mm and 31mm shorter than those of the Tiguan at 1546mm and 1572mm respectively.

Compared to the recently facelifted seventh-generation Golf, the new Volkswagen SUV is 21mm shorter, 21mm wider and 120mm higher. Its wheelbase is also 31mm shorter than the German car maker’s traditional hatchback.

Inside, the T-Roc boasts a dashboard similar in style to that already used by the Golf Sportsvan, but with additional body coloured trim elements to help liven its appearance. The controls have also been brought over from other recently launched Volkswagen models, giving the new SUV an instantly familiar cabin appearance.

The added body height in comparison to the Golf as enabled Volkswagen to provide the T-Roc with an elevated SUV like seating position; the front seats are mounted 572mm above the road, while the rear seats are set at a height of 618mm. Nominal boot capacity is put at 445-litres, which is 65-litres more than that offered by the Golf but a significant 170-litres shy of the Tiguan. With the standard 60:40 configured rear seat folded, capacity extends to 1290-litres.

The list of optional equipment is extensive. Included is the latest version of Volkswagen’s 11.3-inch active info display digital instrument pack, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display supporting a so-called app connect function for integration with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink, an inductive smart phone charge plate and a Beats sound system featuring a 300-watt 8-channel sound system.

2018 Volkswagen T-Roc. Photo: Supplied

The T-Roc will be sold with a choice of five different turbocharged engines, including three petrol units and two diesels. Depending on the model, buyers get to choose between a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual shift automatic gearbox and either front- or 4Motion four-wheel drive.

Among the petrol engines is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder developing 85kW and 200Nm in the entry level 1.0 TSI. Above it is the 1.5 TSI, which receives Volkswagen’s newly introduced 1.5-litre four-cylinder with 110kW and 250Nm. The initial performance leader within the new T-Roc line-up, though, is the 2.0 TSI. It runs the latest variant of Wolfsburg’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 140kW and 320Nm of torque.

The diesels, all fitted with a SCR catalytic converter, kick off with a 1.6litre four-cylinder with 85kW and 200Nm in the 1.6 TDI. It is supported by Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which develops either 110kW and 340Nm or 140kW and 400Nm in the 2.0 TDI.

A total of four models come with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive as standard. The 2.0 TSI and more powerful version of the 2.0 TDI come exclusively with a seven-speed ducal shift gearbox and 4Motion four-wheel drive – a combination that can also be ordered as an option on the 1.5 TSI and lower powered 2.0 TDI.

T-Roc models equipped with 4Motion four-wheel drive receive a so-called active control function. It provides the choice between two on-road modes, street and snow, as well as two off-road modes, off-road and off-road individual. An optional feature on front-wheel drive models, the 4Motion four-wheel drive models also receive a driver profile function as standard. It allows the driver to choose between five different modes: comfort, normal, sport, eco and individual.

Volkswagen claims the T-Roc leads its class in terms of driver assistant systems. Among the standard equipment on all models is automatic post collision braking, active land keeping and a front monitoring system – the latter incorporating pedestrian monitoring and emergency braking. High-end models also receive a driver alert system.

Related Articles

Drive Comments

The truth | 24 Aug 2017 00:48

Tech class leaders are Subaru with their eyesight package that is standard in their vehicles, not an extra cost option with extra cost options on top of that.

The truth | 24 Aug 2017 01:38

Among the key design cues is a new interpretation of the classically simple Volkswagen grille.
You mean book-ended, as in each end of a line of books to keep them upright. Bookmark is a small marker you put in the middle of a book, and I can't see any headlights in the middle of the grille....

Mr Majestyk | 24 Aug 2017 02:31

I don't understand this article at all. The headline is VW's new CX-3 rival revealed and you spend the entire article comparing it to the Golf and Tiguan, not one comparison to the CX-3. Utterly ridiculous. One thing it has over the CX-3 is a good choice of engines, and the 2.0l is the only one that makes sense. Too bad we have no idea how this CX-3 rival compares in dimensions,interior space, weight, etc.

Nathan | 24 Aug 2017 03:17

Mr Majestyk, i dont think this article is meant to be a side by side comparison with the CX-3. Having CX-3 rival in the headline is just to let you know what market VW will target with its new vehicle. Drive use that headline all the time when a new model is released.

Selector 2 | 24 Aug 2017 06:00

Good luck with the change over from left hand drive (pictured).

AJ_Sydney | 24 Aug 2017 06:40

@majestyk, if the article had stated CX-3 comparison - then you would have a point. It was simply stating the segment this car will be competing in. Ridiculous? no. Obvious? yes. I'm sure when VW release all the dimensions this web site will be happy to publish them. Hang in there buddy.

The truth AJ_Sydney | 24 Aug 2017 06:47

Segments have a name. If you are mot going to do a comparison with avehicle, don't put it in the heading.

Mr Majestyk | 24 Aug 2017 11:19

Sorry AJ the dimensions are released (did you even read the article At 4234mm in length, 1819mm in width and 1573mm in height, the T-Roc is 252mm shorter, 11mm wider and, due to its more road car like ground clearance, a considerable 131mm lower than the second-generation Tiguan), the entire article compared the dimensions of the TRoc to the Tiguan and Golf, but not its rival.